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F4 tornado in Crawford County, Kansas

Tornado May 4, 2003 · Crawford County, Kansas

F4
Rating
33.0 mi
Whole path
880 yd
Path width
4
Deaths
30
Injuries
$20.2M
Damage as recorded

NOAA records this tornado county by county. Its path ran through Crawford County → Barton County, Missouri; the totals above are for the whole tornado.

EF0EF1EF2EF3EF4EF5Unrated

The path drawn at its surveyed width of 880 yards (0.50 mi) — zoom in and the swath grows to true scale. Other tornadoes recorded nearby that day are shown faint.

What F4 means. This tornado was rated on Fujita’s original scale, used until 2007. F4 meant devastating damage: well-built houses levelled; the scale paired it with winds of 207–260 mph, figures later judged too high, especially toward the top of the scale, and revised downward in the Enhanced Fujita scale. Ratings then, as now, came from the damage.

The wider storm

This storm is known to have initiated the unforgettable series of events of 4 May, 2003. This classic supercell rapidly developed over Montgomery County, Kansas, eventually moving into southwestern Crawford County, Kansas where it spawned a very large and destructive tornado. This tornado laid out a path of destruction for 27 miles of farm land and small communities through Crawford County. This event also claimed three lives and injured 20 in eastern sections of the county, where the tornado had strengthened to F-4 status. The tornado continued on the ground into Barton County, Missouri.Sharon Lasbrook age 48, was deceased from being thrown out of her mobile home and into a field. Her home was completely disintegrated by the twister.George Bolte age 68, was taking cover in his manufactured home and laying over his wife to protect her from flying debris. While saving her life, he was deceased from the debris.Josephine Maghe age 87, was taking cover within her frame home as the tornado arrived. She was deceased from being struck into the ground.

Began near Mc Cune (37.4167, -95.1000).

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event 5358086. Narratives are written by the National Weather Service forecast office that issued the report.

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